Outcry over killing of Afghan TV presenter Mina Mangal

Afghan politicians and women’s rights activists are demanding justice after a political adviser and former prominent TV presenter was murdered in broad daylight.

According to BBC, Mina Mangal, who worked as a television presenter before entering politics, was shot dead at close range in Kabul on Saturday.

Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah vowed her killers would be caught.

The motive remains unclear but one line of inquiry is a family dispute.

In a statement released on Saturday, the interior ministry said that Ms Mangal, who was on her way to work as an adviser for the Afghan parliament’s cultural affairs commission, was shot dead around 07:20 local time.

Afghanistan’s Supreme Court, and civil society groups including the commission into violence against women, have called for a serious investigation into her killing.

Ms Mangal had recently posted on Facebook that she had received threats and feared for her life, prominent women’s rights activist Wazhma Frogh said on Twitter.

“Can’t stop my tears at the loss of this beautiful soul. She had a loud voice, & actively raising voice for her people. In this Facebook status she says she’s threatened & she says she she trusts her Allah & that a strong woman isn’t scared of death. RIP Mina Mangal”.

Ms Mangal separated from her husband two years ago, with her family filing a complaint alleging domestic violence at the time, Jamshid Rasooli, a spokesman for the attorney general’s office, told the BBC.

He said the case was referred to a family violence court and later dropped in a decision criticised by Ms Mangal’s family.

Police are continuing their investigation into the murder and have not identified any suspects.

Since Ms Mangal’s death, Afghan social media has been vocal about the levels of violence against women in the country.